Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  At 4 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2017, a stream of students, parents, former teachers and former coaches flowed into the Nederland Middle Senior High School auditorium, where they were greeted by Boulder Valley School District’s Michele DeBerry, executive director of secondary schools.

The agenda of the meeting was to listen, said DeBerry, speaking of herself and Andy Tucker, the director of district student support. It was an opportunity for the community to speak to these BVSD representatives about their feelings and opinions concerning the non-renewal of football coach Aaron Jones’ contract for next season.

Jones and the community learned of this decision in December, just before winter break, and anger and frustration have sparked a blaze of protest against the NMSHS’s administrative decision.

Because district policy prohibits the staff from discussing personnel issues, the Nederland community doesn’t understand why a man so admired by everyone in the community could be let go. No one could fill his shoes, say his supporters. Last month about 100 students walked out of their classes, walked out of the building and took their protest to downtown Nederland where they held up signs saying they wanted Jones back and they chanted, “Jones is Nederland football.” It was a peaceful protest.

A few days later, the district administrators set the date for the meeting, saying they would listen to what the community had to say and then discuss the issue, determining what the next step would be. DeBerry and Tucker stated up front that there would be no answers to questions or decisions about the matter until they had a chance to review the written comments from the community. It was undetermined whether or not a personnel decision could be reversed due to pressure from the public.

The auditorium was about two thirds filled, with one section cordoned off for security reasons. A podium and microphone were set up in front of the stage, as well as a table where the administrators sat. The NHS football team and a group of other sports supporters filled the first three rows of the auditorium.

Then, one after another, with three minutes each, members of the community said their piece, many of them emotional, and all of them eloquent and respectful. Tucker complimented the students for going outside their comfort zone to speak in front of administrators, teachers and fellow students.

The relentless questions of the night were why did this happen, how could this have happened, and what can be done about it. Individuals stated that they are the ones who pay the administrator’s salaries and they should have some input into who they hire and fire.

A group of people handed out a letter stating their mission, their intent to find some resolution to the actions of  NMSHS Athletic Director Emmy Murphy and the firing of  five coaches in the past year and a half; coaches who have proven their dedication to the athletes, their students, the school and the community.

The letter states: “The direction that Nederland MSHS has taken is both concerning and unacceptable to the parents and community. We have watched as drastic change, and not positive change, has taken place with zero explanation. There seems to be a shroud of secrecy that is met with the standard issue “protocol” response when the administration is questioned about the reasons or the greater plan. This “new direction” we have heard about, but have been given zero explanation for, seems to be authoritarian  and unilateral. We as a community are no longer going to allow what feels like the wanton destruction of our school.”

The first student speaker was Mazie Pancoast whose brother, Miles, a member of the football team, was in a car accident that left him paralyzed. Coach Jones showed up in the ICU the next morning and supported Miles throughout his journey to recovery for the past year, offering support and encouragement. Jones made sure that Mile’s place on the team was protected and honored.

A grandfather said he always watched the practices as well as the games that his grandson played and, “Jones is the best guy I’ve ever seen as a coach. He is always there and he has a great knowledge of football and play calling. He is there on the list of what we want in a coach. Why are we looking for a new coach?”

Football player Rain Larrabee said he came here from a small town and knows how tight knit a community can be. “If you go into someone’s house and tear it apart, you have to have a reason.”

Nederland is a small community that is often brought together by school activities that lure people out of their cabins, to come together. Former teacher and father of NHS athletes, Bill Thibedeau says coach Jones is a role model for both the football team and as a member of the community. He is esteemed as a language arts teacher and is the president of the Nederland Youth Hockey League.

“When Aaron dedicated a football game to Bob Allen who was suspended at the time, whose father was dying of brain cancer, AD Murphy admonished him and kept the coach from attending the next away game. She does not have the interest of the community at heart.”

When Trig Campbell was in sixth grade, he attended a high school football game and decided he wanted to someday be there, on the field, playing for Coach Jones. “When I told Coach Jones that story and how much he meant to me, we both cried. Jones IS the NHS football program. The spirit is gone. We need Coach Jones to come back.”

Steve Williams, a retired NCAR employee and the vice chair of the Nederland Planning Commission addressed the audience saying he had two children, both NHS students, both athletes and both successful, which he attributes to the sports they participated in. His son, Stu, had never kicked a football before he met Coach Jones and ended up as a three year starter place kicker for the University of Wyoming and graduated with two engineering degrees.

“Aaron gave his personal time to help Stu develop his talent. He has a great ability as a motivator of students. You will be hard pressed to find another coach as qualified as he. I urge you to investigate deeper and find out what is really going on here.”

Stu Williams was also on the Nordic Ski Team that was coached by Dave Femmer, who was also fired in the past year.

Parent and member of the Nederland Board of Trustees Julia Gustafson asked, “What is happening? Five coaches in one and a half years? That is a systemic challenge. We have a right to know why and to help solve the problem. Volunteerism is down, people no longer feel welcome and that disconnects the community from the school. We should be invited and supported. The school should embrace volunteerism. There is a lack of transparency here. This is a public school and we need answers. The schools, family and community should be collaborative and the administration should be engaging the community to be involved with the solutions.”

NHS’s motto is REACH, and parent Theresa Bradley said that the principles of the motto are not being played out. Her daughter does not currently participate in sports but has felt the effect of the conflict that is rising between the theater department and the sports program. “Last spring, AD Murphy recruited soccer players for the last two weeks of the spring musical practice and then this fall she scheduled middle level basketball at the same time as the play auditions. We need an AD who can look at the whole picture.

Resident Laura Kugel home schooled her children and when he son Wes entered NHS, coach Jones approached him to play on the team where he made friends and felt welcomed.

“That help changed Wes so much that after he graduated he went to school and is now a Nederland Police Officer. He played tapes from Coach Jones that helped him get through his courses.”

Senior football player Jaylen Rasdall played for Coach Jones for three years and the team celebrated winning seasons. Rasdall says, “This is confusing to me. The program should be moving forward. The team is like a chain, all hooked together and Jones connected us. I just want those coming up behind us to have the same experience as we had.”

Art teacher and soccer coach Theresa Redmond told the administrators that it is not easy to find someone who is passionate about Nederland sports. “It is hard to find a dedicated coach. For a coach to stay as long as Jones he needs to be a role model. To think you’d get someone as great as him blows my mind.”

Although all of the people who had signed up to speak had spoken, others from the audience asked to sign up.

Senior football player Bob Allen told the administrators that he had made a mistake and after four years on the football team was not allowed to finish the season. He remembers watching the football field being constructed and telling his mom that he wanted to be a Panther. He said Coach Jones was the reason that wearing the blue and gold was something special and awesome.

“I am speaking now because my time is past. I am saying this for the younger kids who want to wear the blue and gold.”

Parent and volunteer Anthony Sineni said, “Seeing these kids makes me want to cry. This is ridiculous and we shouldn’t even be here. I don’t get it. This decision was made before Christmas and I think the administration owes Jones and his family an apology. Did he even get a thank you for all of his work for the program and the boys? Did he even get a card?”

“You just don’t get Ned,” said retired teacher Bonnie Nash. She said she knows that many students were imprinted by Aaron Jones and that BVSD just doesn’t understand that Nederland is different. “Our community stands behind and with one another. All of these questions and requests have been level-headed and we should know what the next step is. We, the taxpayers, are your bosses and we want to know what we can do next if we aren’t satisfied.”

Why is this happening?

Former soccer coach and teacher Troy Tewalt said he was at the school pre-Jones and saw the changes that took place in the program. “How he could be let go is unbelievable. I just want him and his family to be shown some respect.”

Parent of three sons, Dan Rasdall says coach Jones taught his sons how to behave and how to act. He picked up the boys for practice when Dan was recovering from cancer.

“If everyone was like Jones, this would be a perfect world to live in. These kids deserve more than what they’re getting.  This is a sad day.”

One mother was concerned about what this action says to her kids, the message they are receiving. “The big message is how will you handle this situation. Sometimes people make mistakes. Maybe we should try to work together for a solution.”

Administrator DeBerry said the next step is to take all the messages to the district and share the information. She said Principal Yantzer will get back to them and that her task was to listen first hand and then do due diligence.